Warri – As the rainy season begins to gather momentum, residents of the twin cities of Warri and Effurun have continued to under groan about the very parlours state of roads in the locality.
They have called on the state governor,Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa even as he winds up his second and last tenure to as a matter of urgency, fix the roads before taking a bow as the governor of the state.
The residents said they have suffered untold hardship for the past seven years as a result of the bad roads which have affected their economic state because their businesses have continued to be on the downward slide due to effects of bad roads.
One resident who gave his name as Mr Okonedo Andrew who resides at at 12 Ojugo Street, off Giwa-Amu Road, Warri told our correspondent that they have been suffering because of the bad road since he moved into the street.
Okonedo said when he moved into the street, he did not know that the street was that bad because he moved in during the dry season. He said the street is always flooded every raining season leaving some residents with no choice than to seek shelter with their relatives elsewhere until the rainy season is over.
According to Okonedo, “We have written several letter to the state government through the Commissioner for Works and all to no avail. All they keep telling us for the past seven years is that they will soon start work on the road.
Madam Eseoghene , resident of Sokoh Estate Road,in Uwvie Local Government Area of the state lamented the deplorable condition of the road,saying
” This road has been like this for more than 4years. Two days ago ,it was God that saved my daughter,she was returning from work , around 9pm, you see that bad portion near the filling station, you must slow down before passing there, robbers were operating and she didn’t know until she got do close .She quickly jumped out of her car and ran away.
“This road is not only spoiling our cars, worst still, putting our lives at risk”. She lamented.
Mr Francis Onos ,an Uber driver,while complaining bitterly about the road said, ” one would have expected the government to maintain road because ,this is a major road linking Jakpa road to Airport Road, if not for this community boys that help to patch the big potholes with broken blocks,the road would have long been abandoned”. Okowa should do something!” He enthused.
Another residents said, ,”For those of us who live and have stores here, we cannot do any business during this rainy season because the whole street is flooded. I am a tailor and I have my store here but because of the bad road customers no longer come because the whole place is flooded,” he said.
Another resident, Mr Kiesena Omoyibo who lives at 22 Ginuwa Road in Warri said that they have been experiencing flood in the street for over eight years, adding that on several occasions the flood entered their houses whenever it rains.
He said, “this road has been like this for so many years and government have refused to come and fix it for us. We have to fold our trousers and pull our shoes in our hands anytime we are going out and coming in.
“Okowa should please come to our aide because we are suffering. People call Okowa the Road Master but we are not feeling the impact of that name in this street. He should come and fix this road for us before he leaves office so that we can say he has done something for us,” he said.
Several roads in the oil-rich city including the Effurun Roundabout, Sokoh Estate, First Marine Gate, Etuwewe, Uti among many others are in very bad shape and residents are calling on the state government under the leadership of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to come to their aid.
